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All-Around Pairing a proven net-zero strategy with conscious material choices BY STEVE BACZEK I see two paths to being green. (I don’t like that term, but lack of a better one forces me to use it.) Path 1 is designing a typical codebuilt house and then applying a degree of recycled materials and site-generated energy in an attempt to make up for buildingperformance inadequacies. Path 2, my preference, is to integrate performance strategies with scrutinized building practices to develop a house where all the decisions are in harmony with each other. While energy efficiency is always a concern, conceptually I don’t solve for it. I concentrate on durability, comfort, and health, making sure to align them with environmental responsibility, particularly in terms of material choices—and then energy efficiency comes along for the 68 FINE HOMEBUILDING ride. The result is a comfortable, healthy home that is durable enough to last a long time, that will remain a high-performance home for decades, and that will have a minimal impact on the environment. I recently had a great opportunity to design a home in this way with Don and Amy Bowen. If you ask them to describe their lifestyle, you’ll hear words such as simple, environmentally thoughtful, minimalist, uncluttered, and free—which is to say free from a burdened conscience, the trappings of high energy bills, and arduous home maintenance. They live this way in part to have the time and money to pursue their favorite leisure-time activities, but mostly because they are passionate about the fight against climate change. Photo: Rob Yagid